SALON

Tuesday, Aug 3, 2010 4:50 PM UTC

“Ground zero mosque” changes name, offers memorial, opponents still not placated

Opponents to the construction of a Muslim community center in Lower Manhattan still hysterical, bigoted

By

Topics: New York City, Islam, Newt Gingrich, New York, Religion, War Room,

This aerial photo of April 20, 2010, shows the New York city block, lower right, where a 13-story mosque is planned for construction two blocks north of the World Trade Center site, center left. The plan for the $100 million mosque and cultural center received initial support on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 from community board 1 in Lower Manhattan. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)(Credit: AP)

Despite the best efforts of Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich — two people who no one could’ve predicted we would still be writing “news” stories about in the year 2010, when neither of them even has a job — the New York City landmarks commission decided that a former Burlington Coat Factory site in lower Manhattan is not actually a historic landmark worthy of preservation. That means that, despite the protests of our whiniest Americans, an Islamic community center can be built there. Which is, obviously, a disastrous blow to Western civilization, and our freedom.

The “ground zero mosque” organizers have renamed the center “PARK51″ — which sounds like condos. Their new website also looks like condos! But it received the new name for the same reason that Daisey Khan, the director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement and the wife of the cleric involved in the project, sat down with the Wall Street Journal to talk about how they might add an interfaith chapel and a memorial to 9/11 victims and how the board of the project will include members of other religions: Because they’re bending over backward to “prove” to people opposed to the project that they are not, you know, terrorists. Despite their Muslimness.

Anti-Defamation League head Abe Foxman is still adamant that religious freedom does not apply to Muslims below 14th Street:

Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League said Ms. Khan’s statements on transparency, inclusiveness and healing don’t address the central point of his group’s opposition: that the location of the center is insensitive to the families of the Sept. 11 victims. “If you want to heal us, don’t do it in our cemetery,” he said. “We are joining in with families who are not saying don’t do it at all, but saying don’t do it here.”

Yes, well it’s hard for anyone’s comments to address the central point of the ADL’s opposition, because the ADL’s opposition, as far as I can tell, is based on hysterical bigotry.

Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene More Alex Pareene.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 72 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

vote
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Forging Newt Gingrich Primary Signatures: Adam Ward pleaded guilty to 36 counts of voter fraud and perjury
93 points94 points | 13 comments
vote
Here Come the Edward Snowden Truthers
60 points61 points | 32 comments
vote
Here come the Edward Snowden truthers
50 points51 points | 25 comments
vote
The internal war between House Oversight Committee chair Darrell Issa and ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings blew up again Tuesday, when Cummings released the full transcript of a five-hour interview with the conservative Republican IRS screening manager.
45 points46 points | 6 comments
vote
How cash secretly rules surveillance policy: Today's congressional hearing was a joke. The reason: Firms like Booz Allen bankroll and own Congress. Here's how
40 points41 points | 6 comments

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations